Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer (2017 Lifetime)

Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer (2017 Lifetime)

Cast: Andreas Damm, Toni Garrn, Timothy Davis

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Synopsis (via Lifetime)

“Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer” tells the story of the sprint runner dubbed the “Blade Runner” and his rise to fame as a gold medalist Paralympic champion and as the first double-leg amputee to participate in the Olympics. Oscar’s (Andreas Damm, “Elementary”) resilience to overcome his disability combined with his apparent fairy tale relationship with model Reeva Steenkamp (Toni Garrn, “Under the Bed”) turned him into a media favorite. This all shattered one Valentine’s Day night when four bullets were fired, and Reeva’s life was taken. Her brutal death shocked the world, and the courtroom drama that followed consumed the news. “Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer” provides an inside look at the events leading up to Reeva’s killing, the cracks that formed in the relationship between Oscar and Reeva, as well as the courtroom drama that followed, revealing what happened on that tragic night.

Based on a true story and public records, the film was produced by Eric Tomosunas and Swirl Films for Thinkfactory Media and executive produced by Leslie Greif. The film will have its world television premiere on November 11, 2017, on Lifetime. Norman Stone serves as director; Amber Benson is the writer. The families did not participate in the making of this movie. (2017)

Thoughts

The movie begins with a news segment about Oscar Pistorious, the South African olympian. His story was inspiring how he overcame obstacles to compete with elite runners. Then we cut to Oscar running “The Day of Reeva’s death” on February 13, 2013.

Oscar was in a relationship with a beautiful blonde model named Reeva. She has Valentine’s card for him and is excited to move in with him in his new house. They make love on the kitchen table, and then Oscar takes a shower. Later that night, Reeva screams for help and shots are fired.

Police arrive on the scene and find a bloody scene. The bathroom door had been beaten in with a cricket bat, and blood is all over the bathroom. Detectives take selfies with Oscar as he waits in the garage of his home. He is covered in blood claims that he thought Reeva was an intruder and shot her by mistake. The movie depicts the night as Oscar recalls it, and it seems like a pretty average night. They have dinner and plan for their new home together. In the middle of the night, Oscar hears something in the bathroom and pulls a gun on the intruder. He shoots his gun four times at the water closet, realizes that Reeva is locked inside, and breaks in with his cricket bat. Oscar calls his father for help after realizing what he had done, and Reeva died in his arms. Police take the statement and ask why he washed his hands; then, they arrest him.

The movie flashes back in time, and we see Reeva’s conversation with her mother about the relationship. Reeva’s mother has concerns that things are moving too fast. Reeva assures her mother that she knows what she is doing and is excited for her opportunities from the high profile relationship.

Then the movie flashbacks to when Oscar and Reeva met at a fancy party. The same day they go to an award show together and are inseparable. Reeva is focused on getting her career aspirations in line and doesn’t want just to be seen as Oscar’s girlfriend. Oscar feels threatened by her ambition and is possessive and jealous. Reeva is also suspicious/jealous of Oscar and all the attention he receives from female fans.

A random shirtless scene with Oscar pretending to shoot guns while listening to metal music happens. Then he goes shooting with his mates before Reeva returns from a modeling gig in Jamacia. They tour the home that they plan to move into, and it is perfect. (Minus the dusty covered furniture.) They had been dating for two months.

The couple begins to argue when Oscar sees things he disapproves of on social media. He blames her for making him so mad at her and in the same breath says he can’t live without her. He is emotionally manipulating her. Reeva blames herself for the relationship troubles and plans to “try harder.” Reeva’s friend attempts to talk sense into her friend and calls Oscar a stalker and controlling. (He even comments on what she is eating, calling her fat. Gross.) Reeva ignores her friend but gets anonymous tweets and emails that Oscar is cheating on her.

Reeva brings up her concerns about the messages saying he is a cheater. Oscar screams at her and thinks she should expect these things since he is a celebrity. He shames Reeva for doubting him and tells her to prove she is worthy of him and his relationship. Reeva storms off.

The two take a vacation after New Years’ to Cape Town and enjoy time by the pool (Oscar gets jealous of guys looking at her). Then they have a lovemaking scene that is REALLY long.

Back home, domestic disputes continue and are reported by neighbors to the development security. There is a trail for police to follow.

The movie flashes to 2014, which is during Oscar Pistorius’s court case. He cries on the stand and says he misses Reeva so much. Then he walks on his legs without the blade supports to generate sympathy in the court. The messages from WhatsApp paint a different picture of an abusive and manipulative relationship. Reeva’s mother knew that the relationship was rocky, but she didn’t know it was that bad. The night Reeva was killed, she had her bags packed, ready to leave Oscar.

The neighbors testify, and we see the night of the murder from their perspective. They call security, who rush to the scene. It is revealed that Oscar carries guns whenever he goes. His bad behavior is revealed through testimony. He even hits a dog with his car and shoots it to put it outs of his misery.

Oscar sticks to his story and claims to have thought Reeva was an intruder. The bullets’ angle shows that Oscar had his prosthetics on, and he couldn’t have stumbled out of bed to find an intruder.

Oscar’s final statements in court are reenacted intercut with a violent depiction of Reeva’s last moments. It is not needed and gratuitous. This is one of the trashiest “Ripped from the headlines” movies I’ve seen—no respect for Reeva Steenkamp or her family.

Side Note

The family was not involved and sued Lifetime when the movie was released. Since neither family was involved in making this film and it was produced from the public records, I can’t condone this movie.

Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of murder and is up for parole in 2023

Minority Report: Security Guard, Party goers, Bartender, Jamaicans, police, Judge, Reporters, houseman,

The accents in this film, YIKES!

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Overall rating

🔪🔪 (2 Knives)

🍷🍷🍷🍷 (4 glasses of wine required.)